"You run out of superlatives to describe the achievement," Walker said at the time "She hit great shot after great shot. She made the other players look ordinary with her outstanding play. It is hard to believe she is only 25."Two years ago, Sorenstam played in her first Solheim Cup, winning once and losing twice as the Americans won 13-7 "I am a better player than two years ago," she said "All parts of my game have improved, I am more consistent. I am hitting more fairways, more greens, my putting is better. But this time it is a little different because I am supposed to be one of the top players.

Every point is important wherever it comes from, but I know I have to perform."This is the only team event we get to play, so it is a lot of fun, but there is a lot of prestige at stake We are not playing for money but for pride. I have been through it once so I know what to expect, but I'm sure I'll be nervous."There is one thing Sorenstam has not done, which Davies - and Alfredsson, Neumann and Nilsmark, who holed the winning putt - have. They were all part of Europe's victory at Dalmahoy four years ago. Sorenstam is determined to experience the same feeling on Sunday night..

Brandie Burton, the American Solheim Cup player who severely sprained her right ankle when she fell during practice on Tuesday, is still hoping to be fit for the start of the match against the Europeans tomorrow, writes Andy Farrell from St Pierre. A limping Burton had three ice treatments and played 12 holes yesterday, saying: "As long as I take the right precautions, I should be OK for Friday." Burton, 24, the youngest player on either side yet in her third match, successfully partnered Dottie Pepper to two wins out of two in the foursomes and fourballs when the Americans won at The Greenbrier two years ago. Blackpool have more chance of a lightless promenade than their team has of reaching the third round of the Coca-Cola Cup. Treat this like it was a Uefa Cup tie, Ruud Gullit, the Chelsea player- manager, had told his team before the kick-off, and with exemplary efficiency they dispatched a team for whom Europe is just a distant dream. "In both the Solheim and the Ryder Cups, Europe has proved that the rankings don't count for much when it comes to matchplay."It's going to be tougher. There are decisions to be made twice a day and some of them will have to be made quickly That's a little bit daunting, but exciting, too.".

The European captain, Mickey Walker, admitting the American tour has a greater strength in depth, denied the expansion of the format from 20 to 28 matches hurt her team's chances of winning back the cup."If there were six more players involved, it might be different, but we have 12 great players and I still believe we can win this week," Walker said. Though four of the 12-strong teams miss out on any one session, each player has to play at least once before Sunday's singles."When I fell over, I was scared at first," Burton said "There was a loud snap and I was shaking all over. Ten years ago I injured the same ankle in a softball game and was on crutches for weeks."Burton's captain, Judy Rankin, added: "It was a freak accident, but it was heartening when she came bopping down the hall to breakfast this morning."A continuation of yesterday's strong winds may lead players to curtail their practice today. However, the switch to a Ryder Cup format means morning and afternoon play on the first two days. Apart from the fact that it was his daughter's birthday yesterday, Anderson hooked him with a line that, as far as Faldo was concerned, was the next best thing to appearance money: fishing. Having flown from Berlin, where he has designed a course, it suited his schedule.

Nicklaus, perhaps realising that he should have taken the original commission, is currently designing another 18 holes. Apart from the fact that Anderson wants his World Invitational to live up to its name in the years to come - he has no sponsor this year, despite BBC TV coverage, and expects to make a loss - he is optimistic about staging the Ryder Cup here even if it will not be before the year 2005.As for Faldo, he may not, in Anderson's words, have received a "dime or a shilling" but there were other incentives. It is my lasting tribute to the game of golf."Notwithstanding the fact that there are those who would argue that a golf course has no place at Loch Lomond, Anderson has ambitious plans. He wanted Jack Nicklaus to design them, failed to interest the Golden Bear and instead approached Tom Weiskopf. Although the World Invitational carries Ryder Cup points, Ballesteros is not here, nor Bernhard Langer.The story of Loch Lomond, which has been named as the best new course in the world, began in 1988 when David Brench, a London developer, finally received planning permission to build 18 holes. Weiskopf, who won the Open Championship at Troon in 1973, looked at a video of the land and visited Loch Lomond two weeks later.The project stalled when the receivers were called in in the early 1990s but Weiskopf persuaded Anderson to buy the land from the bonnie bonnie Bank of Scotland in 1994 Not that Anderson needed much persuading It took him all of one hour to decide to do a deal "Loch Lomond," Weiskopf said, "is my best work.